Meredith Corporation Joins Hunt For Hachette Titles

Are you one of the many people in the city who will be hosting a New Year’s Eve party tomorrow night? Well imagine your party is going great. You’re showing off your Justin Bieber t-shirt collection and everyone is really jealous. Then, right before midnight, Dan, the guy you didn’t invite because he always ruins everything, shows up. He then proceeds to well, ruin everything, by getting wasted and vomiting in the fruit punch. The party, something you carefully planned for what seems like forever, goes from being a perfect night to a terrible one. And all because Dan showed up late and screwed everything up.

If you’re Hearst, Meredith is Dan. Keith Kelly says that Meredith Corporation, owner of such titles as Better Homes & Gardens, Fitness, and Family Circle, has now entered into the fight to gain Elle and other magazines from Hachette Filipacchi Media U.S. (HFMUS). Just last week Kelly reported a rumor that Hearst was in the lead, but now, with the supposed mid-January deadline fast approaching, Meredith appears to be interested in working out a deal. Kelly notes that Hearst could still win out, because Meredith is publicly held, so any deal will have to be approved by shareholders.

Only time will tell if Meredith’s bid to be a Dan at Hearst’s (so far) perfect party happens, so stay tuned.